UNFAIR COMMENT.

NZ Truth, 15 March 1924, Page 9

UNFAIR COMMENT.

Collins and His Critics. My notes on the first test game wore ln print before I road a Press report wherein it stated that Collins made little effort to stop any ball that came his way. TbJ» is *»uch n grows exaggeration that the numbers of cricketera who aro personally acquainted with

this sterling sport would not believe the report for one moment. I may state that I have known and played with Collins for years and have followed his cricketing career. I can say without the slightest hesitation that D. C. Collins is one of the greatest exponents of the game that New Zealand has produced, and one that is a trier right up to the drawing of stumps. It appears to me that there is some strong feeling behind this unsportsmanlike attack. One only has to refer back to the files of the self-same; writer's paper to see he has always written most unfairly and shown the! greatest antipathy to Collins. Then again Collins is sure not to be a favorite m Christchurch as it will be remembered that he and Hiddleston were the instigators of an inquiry m the Cathedral City into the supposed watering of the wicket m the Plunket Shield contest last year. lam quite prepared to say that Collins failed to field up to expectations m the first test; also he did not manage to get a start with the bat; but so did a great many more of -our' prominent players" and now the second test is over it will be interesting; to note if a certain paper is full of unjust criticism about those who were unfortunate enough to fail. I don't think so, as Collins this time is .not amongst the number. How soon a player can lose his reputation m New Zealand with some writers. In spite of having already made 89 and 110 against Otago and 125 against Auckland this year, he is referred to by some critics as a has been! I wonder how those writers would get on m New South Wales. Take, for instance, that sterling little cricketer, C. G. Macartney. His highest score m Sheffield Shield matches this year prior to the visit to New Zealand was 38. \Yet do we find the papers crying out for. his omission from their team or saying unkind things about him? No, they realise, as everyone who has ever played the game of cricket realises, that the best will fail and have a day or so off. To be consistent the writer of one New Zealand paper should advocate the exclusion of Dacre. Worker, Blamlres, McGirr, Smith and Co. as they completely failed to make any showing m this last match, despite the' number of big scores these players have made this season. In conclusion all those cricketers who have played with and under the leadership of Dave Collins are of the same opinion: That he is a gentleman artd one that does his very best from the time the game commences up to the finish. .As to the report' of his refusing to make an effort to stop the ball m Christchurch it' is simDly ridiculous and quite uncalled for. The best of them will miss easy ones at times, but don't say they are refusiner to make an effort to stop or catch them. Collins with the responsibilities of captain m so important a fixture was undoubtedly handicapped and for a match or two was out of luck, but I am not alone m thinking he is still one of our .greatest batsmen.